Vacuum brick press having movable loading and unloading means

ABSTRACT

A brick press includes a fixed lower frame and an upper movable frame. The upper movable frame has thereon an upper movable piston. Mounted on the lower fixed frame are parallel rails. A transfer table has mounted thereon a mold and is movable horizontally along the rails into and out of alignment with the upper movable piston. A lower piston is carried with the transfer table in alignment with the mold. First movable chamber forming means are mounted coaxial with the upper piston and adapted to seal against the top of the mold when the mold is aligned with the upper piston to create a sealed chamber, the pressure of which may be selectively reduced. Mounted beneath the transfer table and coaxial with the lower piston is a second chamber forming means which may be selectively engaged with the top of the lower fixed frame to form a second chamber, the pressure of which may be selectively reduced. When the mold is filled with brick material, the transfer table, mold and lower piston are moved into alignment with the upper piston. The upper and lower chamber forming means are then actuated to isolate the brick material. The pressure within these chambers and within the brick material is then reduced, and the upper piston is actuated to press the brick material against the lower piston. After the pressing operation, the upper piston is raised, the two chamber forming means are retracted, and the transfer table and mold are again moved along the rails out of alignment with the upper piston. Then the finished brick may be removed from the mold, and new brick material may be added thereto.

United States Patent 1191 Iwasaki VACUUM BRICK PRESS HAVING MOVABLE LOADING AND UNLOADING MEANS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Mitsuishi Fukai Tekkosho, Ltd.,

Okayama, Japan [22] Filed: June 23, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 265,739

Shigeo Iwasaki, Okayama, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 2, 1971 Japan 46-58l6l [52] U.S. Cl 425/353, 425/405 R, 425/423 [51] Int. Cl 1328b 3/08 [58] Field of Search... 425/345, 352, 353, 359, 423, 425/453, 405 R Primary ExaminerRobert D. Baldwin Attorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT A brick press includes a fixed lower frame and an upper movable frame. The upper movable frame has 14 1 Feb. 26, 1974 thereon an upper movable piston. Mounted on the lower fixed frame are parallel rails. A transfer table has mounted thereon a mold andis movable horizontally along the rails into and out of alignment with the upper movable piston. A lower piston is carried with the transfer table in alignment with the mold. First movable chamber forming means are mounted coaxial with the upper piston and adapted to seal against the top of the mold when the mold is aligned with the upper piston to create a sealed chamber, the pressure of which may be selectively reduced. Mounted beneath the transfer table and coaxial with the lower piston is a second chamber forming means which may be selectively engaged with the top of the lower fixed frame to form a second chamber, thepressure of which may be selectively reduced. When the mold is filled with brick material, the transfer table, mold and lower piston are moved into alignment with the upper piston. The upper and lower chamber forming means are then actuated to isolate the brick material. The

pressure within these chambers and within the brick material is then reduced, and the upper piston is actuated to press the brick material against the lower piston. After the pressing operation, the upper piston is raised, the two chamber forming means are retracted, and the transfer table and mold are again moved along the rails out of alignment with the upper piston. Then the finished brick may be removed from the mold, and new brick material may be. added thereto.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures VACUUM BRICK PRESS HAVING MOVABLE LOADING AND UNLOADING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a brick press of the type wherein a brick is formed by pressing a powdered brick raw material in a mold by opposed pistons. More particularly, the present invention is directed to such a brick press which includes the provision for eliminating air from the raw material during compression thereof by the pistons. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such a brick press which includes means providing for the efficient and rapid loading and unloading of the brick press.

2. Description of the Prior Art Previously known brick presses of the type wherein a powdered raw brick material is pressed in a mold between a pair of pistons have all inherently suffered from the disadvantage that during the pressing operation air is entrained in the material and is compressed. The compressed air tends to counter the pressure of the pistons, thereby reducing production efficiency. Furthermore, the air tends to come entrained in the brick, thereby reducing the quality of the bricks produced.

In applicants copending application Ser. No. 220,626 filed Jan. 25, 1972, there is disclosed an improved brick press which includes provision for avoiding entrainment and compression of air in the raw material during the pressing operation. Specifically, the device disclosed in the copending application includes means to withdraw air from the raw material prior to and during the pressing operation. However, the efficiency of the device disclosed in the copending application is limited. This is due to the fact that loading and unloading of the mold must occur while the mold is aligned with the pistons. This arrangement is not entirely desirable in view of safety and production efficiency considerations.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With the above discussion in mind, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a brick press of the type wherein raw material is pressed between opposed pistons in a mold and which includes provision for avoiding entrainment and compression of air in the raw material during the compressing operation, and which includes means for increasing the efficiency of loading and unloading of the mold.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a press wherein the mold is positioned on a transfer table which may be selectively moved into and out of alignment with the pressing pistons.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a fixed lower frame and an upper movable frame. The upper movable frame has thereon an upper movable piston. Mounted on the lower fixed frame are parallel rails. A transfer table has mounted thereon a mold and is movable horizontally along the rails into and out of alignment with the upper movable piston. A lower piston is carried with the transfer table in alignment with the mold. First movable chamber forming means are mounted coaxial with the upper piston and adapted to seal against the top of the mold when the mold is lower fixed frame to form a second chamber, the pressure of which may be selectively reduced. When the mold is filled with brick material, the transfer table, mold, and lower piston are moved into alignment with the upper piston. The upper and lower chamber forming means are then actuated to isolate the brick material. The pressure within these chambers and within the brick material is then reduced, and the upper piston is actuated to press the brick material against the lower piston. After the pressing operation, the upper piston is raised, the two chamber forming means are retracted, and the transfer table and mold are again moved along the rails out of alignment with the upper piston. Then, the finished brick may be removed from the mold, and new brick material may be added thereto.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made clear from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end view, partially in cross-section, of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is'an end view, partially in cross-section, of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

A stationary frame 7 has attached thereto vertical columns which support a movable frame 4. Attached to the movable frame 4 is a movable piston 2. Frame 4 and piston 2 areindependently selectively movable in a vertical direction by suitable and conventional drive means (not shown). Mounted on the upper surface of lower fixed frame 7 are parallel horizontal rails 8. A transfer table 6 is movable along rails 8 by suitable means such as wheels 15. Mounted on transfer table 6 is a brick mold l. Positioned within mold 1 and extending downwardly through an opening in transfer table 6 is a lower piston 3. As shown in FIG. 2, transfer table 6, mold l and lower piston 3 may be selectively moved from a first loading and unloading position, shown in FIG. 2, a suitable distance D to a second position in alignment with upper piston 2, as shown in F IG. 1

A first upper bellows 9 has its upper end sealingly attached to the lower surface of movable frame 4. The lower end of bellows 9 is sealingly attached to a plate 10 which is supported by the piston rods of-a plurality of servo-cylinders 11. It will be apparent from the drawings that upper bellows 9 and upper plate 10 are concentric with upper piston 2. On the under surface of plate 10 is an air tight resilient ring 10a which is adapted to create an air tight seal with the upper surface of mold 1 when servo-cylinders 11 are actuated in a downward manner.

A second bellows 12 has its upper end sealingly attached to the bottom surface of transfer table 6, and its lower end sealingly attached to the upper surface of a lower plate 13, which is supported by the piston rods of servo-cylinders 14. On the undersurface of plate 13 is an air tight resilient ring 20 which is adapted to create an air tight seal with the upper surface of fixed frame 7 when the servo-cylinders 14 are actuated in a downwardly directed manner.

From the above discussion it will be apparent that when transfer table 6, mold 1 and lower piston 3 are in the position shown in FIG. 1, and when servo-cylinders 11 and 14 are downwardly actuated, sealed chambers are provided around upper piston 2 and lower piston 3. The sealed chambers completely surround the brick material 5 positioned within the mold 1. A conventional vacuum pump 18 and a conventional positive air supply 19 may be placed in selective communication with the chambers within bellows 9 and 12 through lines 16 and 17, respectively.

It is believed that the operation of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be apparent from the above discussion. However, the operation and use of the device will be described in more detail below.

Assume that immediately after the pressing operation necessary for the formation of a pressed brick, servocylinders 11 and 14 are actuated upwardly to release plate from mold 1 and plate 13 from frame 7. Transfer table 6, mold 1 and lower piston 3 are then moved along rails 8 by the distance D to the position shown in FIG. 2, such that lower piston 3 is in alignment with a brick removal means, such as air cylinder 3, which may be selectively raised, thereby raising lower piston 3 and removing the finished brick from the mold. Air cylinder 3' and lower piston 3 are then returned to their original positions, and new powdered brick raw material may be filled into mold 1.

Transfer table 6, mold 1 and lower piston 3 are then moved back into the position illustrated in FIG. 1, such that mold 1 and lower piston 3 are in alignment with upper piston 2. Servo-cylinders 11 and 14 are then downwardly actuated, thereby causing ring 10a to create a seal with the upper surface of mold l and resilient ring 20 to create a seal with the upper surface of frame 7, respectively. Thereafter, vacuum pump 18 is actuated to create a desired degree of vacuum within bellows 9 and 12 and the raw brick material. When a suitable vacuum is achieved, upper piston 2 is moved downwardly in a conventional manner to press the raw brick material between pistons 2 and 3 and thus form a brick. Since vacuum has been created within bellows 9 and 12 and the brick material, there will be no compression of air during the pressing operation. It will be apparent that as the result, the quality of the bricks produced will be improved and the efficiency of the pressing operation will be substantially increased.

- After the brick is shaped, lines 16 and 17 are placed in communication with positive pressure air source 19, thereby raising the air pressure within bellows 9 and 12. Servo-cylinders 11 and 14 are actuated upwardly to move resilient rings 10a and 20 out of contact with mold 1 and frame 7, respectively. This entire operation is again repeated.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a modified embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

The modified embodiment may be the same in all respects as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the exception of the means for forming an air tight chamber around the pistons. Attached to the lower surface of upper frame 4 is a cylinder 9'. Movably surrounding the outer surface of cylinder 9' and creating an air tight seal therewith is an upwardly extending flange of plate 10 which is supported by the pistons of servo-cylinders 11. Similarly attached to the lower surface of transfer table 6 is a cylinder 12'.

The inner surface of plate 13' is movably mounted around the outer surface of cylinder 12 and creates an air tight seal therewith. Plate 13 is supported by the pistons of servo-cylinders 14. The operation of the device illustrated'in FIGS. 3 and 4 is precisely the same as that described above with regard to FIGS.. 1 and 2. However, rather than the provision of a bellows, the modified embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 creates air tight chambers around the pistons by means of the above described cylinders and plates.

It will be apparent from the above detailed description that the improved brick press of the present invention provides the following advantages:

l. The total brick pressing operation may now be more automated than previous operations, thereby reducing the cost of brick manufacture.

2. Loading of raw material and unloading of pressed bricks is greatly facilitated.

3. Safety conditions of the entire brick pressing operation are improved.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, such description is intended to be illustrative only and not restrictive, since many details of the various elements may be altered or modified without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a brick press of the type including a lower. piston positioned above a lower frame, an upper piston mounted on an upper frame to oppose said lower piston, a mold for supporting brick raw material between said pistons, and means for moving one of said pistons toward the other for pressing therebetween said raw material; the improvement comprising transfer means supporting said mold and lower piston for substantially horizontal movement from a first piston out of alignment with said upper piston to a second position in alignment with said upper position; first chamber forming means to selectively create a first air tight chamber enclosing said upper piston and said raw material when said mold and lower piston are in said second position; second chamber forming means to selectively create a second air tight chamber enclosing said lower piston and said raw material when said mold and lower piston are in said second position; said raw material being enclosed in said chambers; and means to selectively create a vacuum in said chambers and within said raw material wherein said means to selectively create a vacuum in said second chamber comprises a conduit defined by said lower frame which conduit operatively communicates with said second chamber.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a rail-mounted transfer table having an opening therein, said mold being positioned on said transfer table above said opening, and said lower piston being positioned within said mold and extending downwardly through said opening.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein said first chamber forming means comprises a first bellows surrounding said upper piston and having an upper end sealed to said upper frame and a lower end movable to create a seal with said mold when said mold is in said second position; and wherein said second chamber forming means comprises a second bellows surrounding said lower piston and having an upper end sealed to said transfer table and a lower end movable to create a seal with said lower frame when said lower piston is in said second position.

4. The improvement claimed in claim 3 wherein said first chamber forming means further comprises a first plate sealed to said lower end of said first bellows, at

least one first servo-cylinder supporting said first plate on said upper frame, said servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said first plate towardand away from said mold, and a first resilient ring positioned on said first plate and adapted to contact said mold when said first servo-cylinder moves said first plate toward said mold; and said second chamber forming means further comprises a second plate sealed to said lower end of said second bellows, at least one second servo-cylinder supporting said plate on said transfer table, said second servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said second plate toward and away from said lower frame, and a second resilient ring positioned on said second plate and adapted to contact said lower frame when said second servo-cylinder moves said second plate toward said lower frame.

5. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein said first chamber forming means comprises a first cylinder surrounding said upper piston and having an upper end sealed to said upper frame, a first plate surrounding said first cylinder and creating a seal with the outer periphery thereof, at least one first servo-cylinder supporting said first plate on said upper frame, said first servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said first plate toward and away from said mold when said mold is in said second position, and a first resilient ring positioned on said first plate and adapted to contact said mold when said first servo-cylinder moves said first plate toward said mold.

6. The improvement claimed in claim 5 wherein said second chamber forming means comprises a second cylinder surrounding said lower piston and having an upper end sealed to said transfer table, a second plate surrounding said second cylinder and creating a seal with the outer periphery thereof, at least one second servo-cylinder supporting said second plate on said transfer table, said second servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said second plate toward and away from said lower frame when said lower piston is in said second position, and a second resilient ring positioned on said second plate and adapted tocontact said lower frame when said second servo-cylinder moves said second plate toward said lower frame. 

1. In a brick press of the type including a lower piston positioned above a lower frame, an upper piston mounted on an upper frame to oppose said lower piston, a mold for supporting brick raw material between said pistons, and means for moving one of said pistons toward the other for pressing therebetween said raw material; the improvement comprising transfer means supporting said mold and lower piston for substantially horizontal movement from a first piston out of alignment with said upper piston to a second position in alignment with said upper position; first chamber forming means to selectively create a first air tight chamber enclosing said upper piston and said raw material when said mold and lower piston are in said second position; second chamber forming means to selectively create a second air tight chamber enclosing said lower piston and said raw material when said mold and lower piston are in said second position; said raw material being enclosed in said chambers; and means to selectively create a vacuum in said chambers and within said raw material wherein said means to selectively create a vacuum in said second chamber comprises a conduit defined by said lower frame which conduit operatively communicates with said second chamber.
 2. The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a rail-mounted transfer table having an opening therein, said mold being positioned on said transfer table above said opening, and said lower piston being positioned within said mold and extending downwardly through said opening.
 3. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein said first chamber forming means comprises a first bellows surrounding said upper piston and having an upper end sealed to said upper frame and a lower end movable to create a seal with said mold when said mold is in said second position; and wherein said second chamber forming means comprises a second bellows surrounding said lower piston and having an upper end sealed to said transfer table and a lower end movable to create a seal with sAid lower frame when said lower piston is in said second position.
 4. The improvement claimed in claim 3 wherein said first chamber forming means further comprises a first plate sealed to said lower end of said first bellows, at least one first servo-cylinder supporting said first plate on said upper frame, said servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said first plate toward and away from said mold, and a first resilient ring positioned on said first plate and adapted to contact said mold when said first servo-cylinder moves said first plate toward said mold; and said second chamber forming means further comprises a second plate sealed to said lower end of said second bellows, at least one second servo-cylinder supporting said plate on said transfer table, said second servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said second plate toward and away from said lower frame, and a second resilient ring positioned on said second plate and adapted to contact said lower frame when said second servo-cylinder moves said second plate toward said lower frame.
 5. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein said first chamber forming means comprises a first cylinder surrounding said upper piston and having an upper end sealed to said upper frame, a first plate surrounding said first cylinder and creating a seal with the outer periphery thereof, at least one first servo-cylinder supporting said first plate on said upper frame, said first servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said first plate toward and away from said mold when said mold is in said second position, and a first resilient ring positioned on said first plate and adapted to contact said mold when said first servo-cylinder moves said first plate toward said mold.
 6. The improvement claimed in claim 5 wherein said second chamber forming means comprises a second cylinder surrounding said lower piston and having an upper end sealed to said transfer table, a second plate surrounding said second cylinder and creating a seal with the outer periphery thereof, at least one second servo-cylinder supporting said second plate on said transfer table, said second servo-cylinder movable to selectively move said second plate toward and away from said lower frame when said lower piston is in said second position, and a second resilient ring positioned on said second plate and adapted to contact said lower frame when said second servo-cylinder moves said second plate toward said lower frame. 